Diplomats visit former conflict-affected areas

Ambassadors, High Commissioners and representatives of 33 countries visited formerly conflict affected areas in the Welikanda and Medirigiriya divisional secretariats in Polonnaruwa today.

They met with people in the villages of Wadigawewa and Palliyagodella and even stopped by the Wadigawewa primary school to interact with the children there.

The group of diplomats also inquired into the well-being of the people they met at the Palliyagodella Jumma Mosque. The LTTE massacred 233 Muslims in the area in 1992.

The group of Ambassadors, High Commissioners and foreign Representatives are to visit residents of the Meegaswewa and Wandingawewa villages, the Godapotta - Beruwila road and the Palliyagoda road from Pathokwewa junction this morning.

In the afternoon, they will to visit the Mahawelithenna village, the Sinhapura School and the Kudapokuna village.

This visit is organised by the President's Counsel and the Minister of Provincial Councils and Local Government Faiszer Musthapha, as instructed by the President Maithripala Sirisena.

The ministry, through this initiative, expects to provide firsthand experience to diplomats about the prevailing situation and ongoing activities in the area. It expects to garner support from foreign nations to develop these former conflict affected rural areas.